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Beaver Troubles!

My friend Alphonse just hopped up on my knee to say hello. Hi guy, how's it going? "It would be going better if it wasn't so hot". Well, you should try working in the shop these days. Is this just an idle chat, or do you have something on your mind? "I just wanted to tell you that we have a new neighbor". I didn't realize anyone had moved, or did someone move into the new house across the street? "Nope, we have a new animal neighbor". I see, so what kind of critter has moved in, and where does he reside? "The new critter, as you call him, is a Beaver". I didn't think beavers like living around people and especially didn't like living in town. "Well, he does and he lives in the creek at the edge of our yard." There's not much water there for his house. "His house is on the other side of the culvert, and there is a small pond there". Have you met him yet? "yes, and he is a nice beaver". Why don't you invite him up so I can meet him. We can share a pine knot -

Hi Mac, this is Barely Beaver, said Al. Barely this is my friend Mac. Hi Mac, said Barely, it's nice to meet you. Thanks for inviting into your home. I've never been in a house before - that is a people house. How is your new home in the creek, asked Mac? It's ok for now, said Barely, there is plenty to eat and enough water to keep me wet. What do you eat, asked Mac? I eat mostly very small trees.

How did you end up in town on our street, asked Mac? Well, said Barely, I just kept moving north and ended up here. I probably won't stay real long, cause beavers move around some. I have to ask, said Mac, how did you get your name? Well, said Barely, my mother almost married a Weasel. At the last minute she decided to marry my dad, who is of course, a beaver. He said I almost wasn't a Beaver, or saying it another way, I was barely a beaver. So he named me Barely. I guess that's a better name than "Almost". Have you met the neighborhood cat, asked Al? No, said Barely, but that was probably the cat that was looking around the creek last night. She is ok, said Al, but she's pretty tough so don't antagonize her. Ok, said Barely, I better go and work on my house some more. Thanks for the invitation and I will see you later.

The following week!

What in the world are those sticks doing in the tub, asked Mac? I don't think Alphonse would put them there. "They are mine", said Barely, behind me. Gosh, you scared me, said Mac. Why are you putting those sticks in my tub, asked Mac?

I'm moving, said Barely! What do you mean moving, asked Mac? Alphonse said I could move into the tub, said Barely. Where am I supposed to shower, asked Mac? Oh, I will be happy to share, said Barely. That's very kind of you, said Mac, but why are you moving? Because an alligator has moved into the creek area where my house is now, said Barely. Do you remember when I said I thought I saw a cat slipping around one night, said Barely? Yes, I do, said Mac. Well, said Barely, that was an alligator, and he has taken up residence in the creek. I had to do something very quickly, because I am very afraid of alligators, said Barely.

Ok guys, let's talk about this situation, said Mac. The alligator has to go, said Barely. I agree, said Alphonse. How do you know he is dangerous, asked Mac? Didn't you know alligators eat Beavers, asked Barely? I suppose I have heard that, said Mac. Well, they do, said Barely! Dogs too, said Al! Well, we will just have to figure out what to do, said Mac. "LOOK", there he is at the back door, said Barely and Al.

By golly, he sure is, said Mac. He doesn't look too mean, and he isn't real big. Size doesn't mean much with alligators, said Barely. Why don't we invite him in and listen to his side of the story, said Mac? Are you serious, asked Barely. Yes, said Mac. Well, we will stay on the table - I don't think alligators climb much, said Barely.

Hi guys, my name is Vinny, said the alligator. Well, Vinny, said Mac, I'm Mac and these two are Alphonse and Barely. Nice to meet you, said Vinny. Barely, do you live around here, asked Vinny. Sort of, said Barely.

Why don't you guys come down and visit, asked Vinny? We are more comfortable up here, said Alphonse. I don't see why, said Vinny, you don't think I would harm you, asked Vinny? Alligators have been know to eat Beavers and Dogs, said Barely.

Well, said Vinny, you don't have to worry about me bothering you, I only eat vegetables. You see, I am a Vegegator, not an alligator! After a short silence, we all said, we have never heard of a Vegegator. I'm not surprised, said Vinny, most people haven't. What do you eat, asked Mac. I eat flowers, weeds, and small bushes, much like a beaver, said Vinny. You will understand if we are a bit skeptical, said Mac. I guess so, said Vinny, not many people have ever heard of Vegegators. We make good neighbors, unless you are a small bush, ha ha.

Well, I guess I better go and look for some flowers for dinner, said Vinny. I will see you guys later. And so, Vinny left us for now.

I don't know about you guys, but I don't trust that alligator, said Alphonse. Me either, said Barely. Look, there's Terry, said Alphonse. Let him in Mac.

Terry, this is Mac, said Alphonse. Hi Terry, said Mac. Did I just see an alligator leave your back porch, asked Terry? Yes, said Barely, he lives down by the creek. Do alligators eat turtles, asked Alphonse? Alligators eat everything said Barely. We have to figure out what to do about him, or we will never be safe, said Alphonse. He tried to tell us he was a vegetarian alligator - a vegegator, said Barely! Mac said, let me think on this and we will meet tomorrow afternoon. Meanwhile be very careful.

The next afternoon

OK guys, here is what went down today, said Mac. I called the Game and Fish Commission about Vinny. They came by and trapped him for transport to somewhere in the southern part of the state. Does that hurt, asked Alphonse? No, they are very careful not to hurt animals they trap for removal to another part of the state. So, you guys can now go back to your business, and Barely, you can move your house back to the creek, said Mac. And, I can have my shower back!

I have every reason to believe this is not the last of the Beaver trouble!

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